HIKUTAIA NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4405, 24 April 1922, Page 2

HIKUTAIA NOTES.

(By Scrutator.) MINING . AND MILLING. ■ Work at the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mine, and a( the Maratoto timber mill was recommenced on Tuesday after the holidays. At the former the work of development discloses excellent prospects, while at the latter the output of a good of. varied timbers continues to increase FARMERS’ UNION. The annual general meeting o-f; the local branch of the Farmers’. Union, as arranged for Easter Saturday night, lapsed for lack of a quorum, the holidays accounting for the poor attendance. SCHOOL PICNIC. At a meeting o<f. householders held in the district school on Wednesday evening, Mr F. Hanlen, chairman of the local school committee, presiding, it was decided to ihold the inaugural annual school picnic and sports on Friday, 28th inst. Subcommittees, consisting of Messrs A. Gubb, W. Norton, A. Robinson and the head; teacher, and of Mesdames Collins, Elliot, and Murdoch, together with the assistant teachers, with power to ajdd. were appointed to' draw up a programme and to arrange for ffie catering 1 . Needless to state, the function is highly'popular with the youngsters, who are busy "training” -fpr the different events. A ROYAL WIN. As a result of continued and voluminov.'’ correspondence the indefatigable Mr A. Robinson, chairman ot tho Ohinemuri County Council, and the representative of the / Hiku‘aia riding, has ; been informed that the Minister of Public Works has agreed to grant a subsidy of £323 towards the clearing’an'd formation- of drains to carry .off the flood water from the low lying lands .ill the Hikutaia-dis-trict that suffered so severely from -the recent heavy rainfall, and which were so disastrously affected by the : surplus water. Having no means of exit, the flood lay on the grass lands, an:l besides giving off a nasty effluvium that pervaded the whole neighbourhood,, destroyed many acres of autumn feed. Mr Robinson’s action and its successful result are highly appreciated by all concerned. Work at the drains is 'expected to commence on Monday. > POPULAR FACTORY MANAGER. The community generally hears with sincere regret that Mr W. Norton has resigned his position as manager of the Hikutaia cheese faetoiy, a post that he has filled with very considerable success for sonie^ 1 years. A live citizen, an ardent, sport, and one who took ao end of' trouble to promote the best interests of the district. Mr Norton will be greatly missed. He is secretary of . the school committee and of the sports club, and a member of all local institutions that make for the welfare of the district. _ Professionally, he holds a record for cheese-mak-ing that will be hard to equal, and very difficult to beat. Health reasons are stated to be the cause of the resignation. Mr Norton’s- many wellwishers here—-and they are legion—wish that recovery will- be speedy, and hope that the private enterprise into which he proposes to enter will prove a huge success. DIVINE SERVICES. Divine services are now "being held three times a month in the Anglican Church. The Rev. Mr Dobson keeps his regular date—the first Sunday of every month—while the Rev. Mr Enticott begins a bimonthly service this month, permission ijpr the use of the church having been granted by Mr Dobson and his committee. The Sunday Schoo), as conducted under the auspices of the Salvation Army, now meets in the hall every Sunday afternoon. PERSONAL. Among visitors to Auckland st present are the following Hikutaia residents: Mrs A. Alley, Messrs P. Corbett. W. K. and R. Morrison!, P. Reid and E. J. Walters.